The external blog site plays an important role when marketing a school and could be used for three main reasons:
• these increase traffic to your School website through the links you include in the general blog template you create, and also in the blog posts you write, which are directed to your School’s website
• these assist with your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as each point (links, as per above) back to your School website assists the SEO
• in most cases these external blogs are free of charge. (Costs are optional depending on your usage and blog complexities and on the Blog provider. In most cases you can easily do this free of charge.)
A good example of these external blogs are provided by Blogger and WordPress.
See School Marketing Manual in the Digital Age (3rd ed) by Bryan Foster 2010 for detail about Blogs and Blogs Posts for Blogger. WordPress Blog examples are shown in ‘Website Creation, Hosting and Costs’ section of the school marketing manual also. There is also information to start the development of Blogger and WordPress blogs. Also included are domain listings for other popular external blog sites.
Blogger and How to Join
Blogger Homepage may be found at: http://www.blogger.com/start; An example of a Blogger Blog may be found at: http://marketschools.blogspot.com/
To create a Blogger Account you first of all need to create a Google Account as Blogger belongs to Google. You then follow the ‘Continue’ key to create the Blogger Account.
To create a Blogger Account go to: https://www.blogger.com/start . Initially click on ‘Create a Blog’.
Other External Blogs
• WordPress
The WordPress Homepage can be found at: http://wordpress.com/
To create a WordPress Account click on the ‘Sign up now’ button on the right hand side and go to: http://en.wordpress.com/signup/ From their just follow the instructions and form your own Blog.
• Squarespace
This is relatively new to the blogging scene with numerous outstanding features. Costs from $US8 to $US50 per month at time of writing. Worth a look. Very impressive reviews from the Wall Street Journal Online and CNET Webware. http://www.squarespace.com/
• TypePad
TypePad was launched in 2003 and has been used by major corporations such as BBC – quite a broad spread of users. Found at: http://www.typepad.com/pro/#2 Costs from $US8.95 to $US89.95 per month at time of writing.
• Other common blogs are available at:
http://www.joomla.org/
http://www.movabletype.org/
http://www.tumblr.com/
http://www.vox.com/
Numerous other examples of various blogs may also be found in the 'Inexpensive or Free Websites with Samples’ section earlier in the school marketing manual e-book.
The Blogger World is an exciting and often time consuming pastime or profession…
There are so many uses both from the school marketing perspective as well as a personal perspective.
Blogger and WordPress are easy to use and set up blogs which would help most schools with their school marketing plan.
This external blog sites for marketing schools blog post was written by Bryan Foster author of School Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (3rd ed) 2010.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Archdiocese of New York Inspirational Website for Church Marketing
The Archdiocese of New York has a wonderful website which should inspire any church marketing personnel.
The personable visual image of Archbishop Timothy Dolan links to his well constructed and diversified personal blog. We are openly invited from the blog link on the homepage to engage through this digital communication format as "God is everywhere even on the blog!"
The website's clean, crisp presentation says 'professional' so very clearly. It has a very welcoming and inviting appeal. This easy to read and use homepage links to various pages including:
Regular podcasts from 'The Catholic Channel' are also linked from this homepage. The Archbishop's weekly 'A Conversation with the Archbishop' program includes the Archbishop answering your emails and discussing various topics, archdiocesan events and Church issues. Programs provided here are diversified and presented by various clergy, religious and lay personnel. (You will need certain software installed to receive these, though. Links are provided.)
Archbishop Timothy Dolan was installed as Archbishop of NY on April 15, 2009 after serving as Archbishop of Milwaukee since 2002.
Church marketing personnel will be inspired by this website. The site exudes professionalism. It says 'welcome - come and view.' The tabs are contemporary, topical and easily found. All linked material is more than appropriate and often necessary for all dioceses and churches.
The Archdiocese of New York exempliary website for church marketing personnel blog post was written by Bryan Foster author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed) 2010.
The personable visual image of Archbishop Timothy Dolan links to his well constructed and diversified personal blog. We are openly invited from the blog link on the homepage to engage through this digital communication format as "God is everywhere even on the blog!"
The website's clean, crisp presentation says 'professional' so very clearly. It has a very welcoming and inviting appeal. This easy to read and use homepage links to various pages including:
- Archbishop Timothy Dolan - Blog, Learn More About the Archbishop, Archbishop's Homilies
- The Catholic Channel
- The World Needs Heroes - linked to NYPriest.com
- Stewardship Appeal
- Events Calendar
- News and Press Releases
- Offices
- Charities
- Education
- Pastoral
- Seminary
- Ways to Give
- Other Links
Regular podcasts from 'The Catholic Channel' are also linked from this homepage. The Archbishop's weekly 'A Conversation with the Archbishop' program includes the Archbishop answering your emails and discussing various topics, archdiocesan events and Church issues. Programs provided here are diversified and presented by various clergy, religious and lay personnel. (You will need certain software installed to receive these, though. Links are provided.)
Archbishop Timothy Dolan was installed as Archbishop of NY on April 15, 2009 after serving as Archbishop of Milwaukee since 2002.
Church marketing personnel will be inspired by this website. The site exudes professionalism. It says 'welcome - come and view.' The tabs are contemporary, topical and easily found. All linked material is more than appropriate and often necessary for all dioceses and churches.
The Archdiocese of New York exempliary website for church marketing personnel blog post was written by Bryan Foster author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed) 2010.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Commercial Church Newspapers
The commercial church newspaper is a necessity in today's secular world. For a more balanced view of everyday issues a commercially produced church newspaper allows for the Church to present its teachings and arguments to a more and more secularized world, to a much larger audience.
The Catholic Weekly and The Catholic Leader are two highly respected commercial church newspapers which by their very nature offer another side to an often one-sided report in the secular media.
Both papers have a strong internet presence, as well as being available in print, usually through churches or though a growing number of newsagencies. Both these papers have a long standing presence within the national church.
The newspapers are interestingly presented and cover a diverse range of topics. Topics which should be of interest to a large readership. The internet option opens the door to a contemporary audience, not just by age but by IT interest levels.
The editors need to continually be aware of this younger and IT savvy option and make sure that stories are relevant to this demographic.
Bryan Foster recently had a story about his 'Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed) 2010, and its impact on a local church, written in The Catholic Leader newspaper.
The place and necessity for commercial church newspapers which is growing within our ever increasing secular societies was written by Bryan Foster.
Church Marketing and the Internet
Church Marketing Internet Applications includes Samples and Instructions to assist the Church marketing personnel with contemporary marketing methods.
The internet provides so many church marketing opportunities that are:
• very contemporary
• popular with a significant and ever-increasing number of our church community
• ever-growing in possibilities
• often inexpensive or free
• fun!
The modern church and parish needs to be actively involved with many of these internet opportunities, otherwise they will unnecessarily fall behind the interest level and communication methods of an ever-growing number of our parishioners – with what could be serious ramifications for all concerned.
The CHALLENGE has been issued!
Headings
Website
Website Management Software Sample
RSS Feeds
SEOs
Blogs
Emails
e/i-Newsletters and e/i-Flyers
Social Networking Websites
Video Uploads
Chat Rooms
Skype
These church marketing internet applications may be found in detailed summaried point form in the 'Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed)' 2010 by Bryan Foster.
The internet provides so many church marketing opportunities that are:
• very contemporary
• popular with a significant and ever-increasing number of our church community
• ever-growing in possibilities
• often inexpensive or free
• fun!
The modern church and parish needs to be actively involved with many of these internet opportunities, otherwise they will unnecessarily fall behind the interest level and communication methods of an ever-growing number of our parishioners – with what could be serious ramifications for all concerned.
The CHALLENGE has been issued!
Headings
Website
Website Management Software Sample
RSS Feeds
SEOs
Blogs
Emails
e/i-Newsletters and e/i-Flyers
Social Networking Websites
Video Uploads
Chat Rooms
Skype
These church marketing internet applications may be found in detailed summaried point form in the 'Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed)' 2010 by Bryan Foster.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
'The Catholic Leader' - Leading Online and Hardcopy National Newspaper
The Catholic Leader newspaper is a national leader online and as a hardcopy edition. It is a model in journalistic integrity and diversity. It is the nation's best selling religious newspaper. The Catholic Leader has a significant online presence.
Editor Peter Bugden has been successfully editing this paper since 2007. He succeeded Marcus Kuczynski who was the editor since since 1997.
The newspaper focusses on international, national, regional and local community stories relevant to not only Catholics but all interested people, especially Christians. However, the primary focus is Catholic.
Stories range from detailed features to informative stories. Colorful photographs enhance the stories and advertisments.
A large variety of advertising topics lead readers to a substantial diversity of resources of interest, including various service offerings, upcoming events and print and electronic texts.
The Catholic Leader plays an integral part for the Archdiocese of Brisbane. It is a primary means of communication for the archdiocese.
'The Catholic Leader Newspaper - leading online and hardcopy national newspaper' was written by Bryan Foster author of Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed) 2010.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)